Sign up for my newsletter

Talk with me

My book has a title…and my baby has a gender!

Okay, the title of this post will probably really confuse you if you haven’t been following my blog. About a week and a half ago, I was thrilled to announce that I’m going to be published for the first time. And I’m also pregnant for the first time. And both of these journeys have been a long time coming.

This week I have more good news to share. Carina Press and I have decided on a title for my novel. Ready for it? It’s…

I love this title because not only does it refer to my hero’s career as a rugby player, but it also reflects a lot of the conversations my hero and heroine have. You see, both Caitlyn and Spencer are struggling to deal with painful secrets from their pasts, and it’s only as they learn to trust and be honest with each other that they can truly find happiness.

If you click the link above, you’ll find out more about their story, and you’ll see an interactive map of the part of London the story is set in.

Now on to my next good news. On Monday Smarty Pants and I had our 20-week ultrasound. Most importantly, the baby is healthy and developing well. Baby was moving around quite a bit (clearly takes after Daddy more than Mommy) but the sonographer got a quick flash of the money shot and said she’s quite sure that…I’m going to have a daughter!

Does anyone have any advice for me as a soon-to-be mom and published author? C’mon, I feel I need it!

Advice on pregnancy? Stop watching the news or listening to negative people. Sleep as much as you can. If you’re a worrier, read about pregnancy, child-rearing, and all the how-to books, then throw them away. Listen to your doctor. Enjoy this adult time with your husband.

On being published? Don’t be a diva. Understand that your editor and the art department are the ones who know how to SELL books–you’re just the one who writes them. So once your part is done, (try to) have faith in their decisions. Remember not everyone will love your book and will happily say so in reviews, (although in your case, I doubt that will happen) Be gracious with the kind and not-so-kind, and try to respond to every reader email or comment you get. When you can, help those still struggling to get where you are.

Congratulations Kat on both about being an author, you are great at it, if you weren’t you wouldn’t get published.
Now on your pregnancy, enjoy it. You will learn as you go. I talked to my belly, and listened to music. When you finally have your daughter in your arms, everything will come to you. Everyone will give you advice on how to raise your daughter, they have your best interest, just say thank you and file it away. Only you and your husband will know what is right for your daughter.. Being a mother is the most wonderful part of life. You will do fine. Congratulations again.

Sleep now. Seriously. Treat yourself special, take it easy and indulge in sleep, reading, napping, slow walks through food stores. Everything changes once baby arrives, and it can be a shock. You might even believe you’ll never have more than two straight hours of sleep again, but you will. Each day gets better. But seriously, for now, sleep-in.

Over the moon for you! Love that baby belly 🙂 Congratulations on your book, and the adorable little girl I can’t wait to teach to play the violin. Now you can buy purple and pink and yellow, and make lists of girl names. How fun!

I love the title! And worry not about writing with baby. Sleep-deprivation can really crank your muse into overdrive, the trick is finding the energy to keep putting down words. Keep laptop open, write whenever you get a spare few minutes. Those words add up. I wrote almost half my first book at kitchen counter. You can do it! (You’ll just be very tired, and maybe a wee bit cranky!)